A person who laced sweets with sleeping medication and gave them to youngsters at a youth camp in the area has confessed to sexual offences against two boys aged between nine and ten.
The defendant was arrested after eight youngsters and an older person fell ill at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from that region, pleaded guilty to a total of 17 charges when he was present at the judicial center on the end of the week.
Nevertheless, he disputed one of the sexual offences he was charged with, which was against a nine-year-old child.
Ruben was remanded in custody ahead of a additional proceeding on 28 November.
'Treat game'
The legal representative, presenting evidence, described Ruben's offending to the judicial body.
She stated his those affected were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer program which he operated.
The man engaged in a "candy game" with the youngsters, the prosecutor stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to eat sweets "as quickly as they can".
She told the court Ruben had conducted this practice with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously fallen ill the subsequent day.
She said the defendant had been capable of justifying this over a long period as the youngsters being "overwrought by enjoyment", until his stepson had concerns in July 2025.
The prosecutor added: "In the summer" his stepchild had worries about the activities, for good reason.
"They resolved" to have a look in the defendant's belongings."
The prosecutor stated materials including infant oil, petroleum jelly and injection devices were found, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his suspicions.
She said Ruben went on to play the "treat game" with six youngsters that evening - Saturday 26 July - and they were all sick the following morning.
"The police had not responded by that point," she continued.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, earlier informed that it was examining Leicestershire Police's handling of the events.
The prosecutor said the children were struggling to walk due to being ill, so Ruben's stepson notified the police again.
She said the defendant then engaged in the "sweet game" in a space of five youngsters.
